Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-21108

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Thursday, 07 September 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 19 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what changes it will make in the way it approaches agreeing a funding settlement for community pharmacies for 2024-25, following the situation for 2023-24 in which the initial offer was reportedly described by Community Pharmacy Scotland as undermining "years of mutually respectful negotiations".

The Scottish Government have delivered the largest financial increase to date for community pharmacy funding, increasing both the remuneration Global Sum by 6% (£12.3 million) and an increase in the Guaranteed Minimum Income of 15.9% (£15.9 million). This delivers a guaranteed minimum funding package of £399.955 million for the financial year 2023-24.

The Scottish Government will commence discussions on the 2024-25 settlement with the representative body, Community Pharmacy Scotland, in the coming weeks. Preliminary discussions have begun on setting out agreed negotiation principles which continue the partnership working between the Scottish Government and Community Pharmacy Scotland to deliver settlement which is fair to community pharmacy providers and is an affordable offer in the current fiscal position.

Question reference: S6W-20752

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on (a) whether the number of people partaking in so-called "recreational vaping" is still increasing and (b) what the (i) public health and (ii) environmental impacts are of the use of disposable plastic vapes.

The Scottish Government does not hold data on recreational vaping. However, the Scottish Government published a report earlier in 2023 which examined the extent of use of e-cigarette in adults and children. The numbers will include those using e-cigarettes to quit smoking tobacco, as well as recreational use - Vaping - understanding prevalence and trends among adults and children: research - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) .

Although challenging to establish a precise estimate of use, key messages from the report include:

The percentage of adults in Scotland reporting current use (generally includes those who vape once a week or more and those who vape only occasionally) is likely to be somewhere between 5% according to the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS 2021) and 13.2% as shown by the Smoking Toolkit Study (STS 2022). The most recent data suggest that the percentage reporting current vaping has increased over time, despite the SHeS 2021 indicating a decrease since 2019.

Although based on different samples by age, surveys from across the UK show that the percentage of current young users (both regular and occasional) could be somewhere between 1.1% of 10-15 year olds ( Understanding Society 2020/21 ) and 7% of 11-17 year olds ( ASH GB Youth Survey 2022 ). Current use appears to be increasing.

Scottish Government commissioned Zero Waste Scotland to undertake a review of the environmental impacts of single use e-cigarettes, the report was published in June 2023. The report identifies several environmental impacts, including littering, wasteful use of resources and carbon emissions. Further detail is available in the report. The environmental impact of single-use vapes (zerowastescotland.org.uk) . The Scottish Government is considering the findings of the report and will set out next steps in the autumn.

Question reference: S6W-20748

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the most up to date advice that it has received from its public health experts on the impact of (a) electronic cigarettes and (b) disposable plastic vapes.

In 2022 we published our consultation on Tightening rules on advertising and promoting vaping products . Evidence about the impact of e-cigarette use on health was included as a section.

Since then Electronic cigarettes and health outcomes: systematic review of evidence (anu.edu.au) and the UK Government commissioned Khan report have been published, adding further to the evidence base.

In May 2023 we published "Vaping – understanding the prevalence and trends among adults and children" ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/understanding-prevalence-trends-vaping-adults-children/pages/2/). This analysis of data on vaping from twelve surveys conducted at UK or regional level, with a focus on current use, ever tried and dual use of vaping products, and differences by socio-economic status.

We work with Public Health Consultants, Scottish Government analysts, and a range of academics and stakeholders to understand how this, and other evidence, informs current understanding. It is an ongoing process to ensure that the development of a refreshed Tobacco Action Plan is based on the latest evidence.

Question reference: S6W-20750

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with local authorities regarding the potential banning of disposable plastic vapes.

We have not had any direct discussions with Local Authorities to date regarding the potential banning of disposable vapes.

However, a stakeholder roundtable was held on 6 September 2023 by the Ministers for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity and for Public Health and Women's Health to discuss the findings of the Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes, which will include representation from local government.

Question reference: S6W-20749

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to further understand the potential health impacts of using (a) electronic cigarettes and (b) disposable plastic vapes.

The Scottish Government will publish a refreshed Tobacco Action Plan in Autumn this year, which will include further action on nicotine vaping products.

We work with Public Health Scotland, Scottish Government analysts and a range of academics and stakeholders to understand the evidence. This is an ongoing process to ensure that the Tobacco Action Plan is based on the latest evidence.

In May 2023 we published “Vaping – understanding the prevalence and trends among adults and children – research” ( https://www.gov.scot/publications/understanding-prevalence-trends-vaping-adults-children/pages/2/ ). This analysis of data on vaping from twelve surveys conducted at UK or regional level, with a focus on current use, ever tried and dual use of vaping products, and differences by socio-economic status. It helps understand the potential extent of any issues.

Question reference: S6O-02531

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 13 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Fire Brigades Union to discuss the impact of any reduction in budget and services on communities, including in the South Scotland region.

Question reference: S6W-20754

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how many working groups, reference groups, policy sub groups, network groups and other groups it has set up in relation to its delivery of the Women's Health Plan; what the full name of each group is, and who each group reports to.

There are two standing groups which support the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan .

The Women’s Health Plan Implementation Programme Board provides strategic oversight for the implementation of the Women’s Health Plan programme and reports to the Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health. An officials’ working group referred to as a Delivery Group supports the Programme Board.

There are a number of networks and short-term sub-groups which are taking forward particular priorities identified in the Plan. More information about some of this work can be found in our recent interim progress update .

Question reference: S6W-20751

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 21 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce so-called "recreational vaping".

We have a clear message on vaping – that it is one possible smoking cessation method and not a lifestyle accessory. Vapes should not be used by children and young people or adult non-smokers.

Our 2022 consultation on Tightening Rules on Advertising and Promoting Vaping Products proposed restrictions on vaping products that strike a balance between protecting non-smokers from the potential harms of vaping, whilst providing existing adult smokers with the information they need to make an informed choice on cessation.

Officials are working to develop further action in this area, which will form part of our refreshed Tobacco Action Plan when it is published in autumn 2023.

Any action that we seek to take will build on the regulations that are already in place to restrict the marketing, promotion and sale of vaping products to under-18s.

We are also supporting work with young people to help them understand the risks related to vaping.

We continue to work with the UK Government, alongside Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Assembly, over joint approaches where appropriate and welcome their commitment to help address underage vaping.

The Zero Waste Scotland report on the environmental impacts of single use vapes highlighted an increase in the number of people using vapes in Scotland. The Scottish Government is committed to taking action on single use vapes, which includes our Programme for Government commitment to consult on a proposal to ban their sale and other appropriate measures. Our approach will be subject to further engagement, policy development and consultation, and informed by a stakeholder roundtable and engagement with the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Question reference: S6O-02502

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Wednesday, 06 September 2023
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to invest in community midwifery services to ensure that they are consistently delivered in areas of need rather than in centralised, and often hard-to-access, locations.

Question reference: S6W-20446

Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: Monday, 07 August 2023
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 4 September 2023

To ask the Scottish Government how regularly it meets with sportscotland to receive updates on its efforts to tackle racism in Scottish cricket.

I have met with sport scotland and Cricket Scotland on a number of occasions to discuss progress against the Changing the Boundaries report and will be meeting the interim CEO on 21 September.

The issue is also regularly discussed at monthly meetings between myself and sport scotland’s Chair and Chief Executive.

In addition, Scottish Government officials meet on a fortnightly basis specifically to discuss the work resulting for the Changing the Boundaries report as well as the issue of racism more widely.